Network Selection in Wireless Heterogeneous Environment by C-P-F Hybrid Algorithm.

Numerous wireless communication technologies have been employed to manage mobile users anywhere, any time and anyhow. Additionally, users are more and more fascinated by multimedia applications such as voice, audio and video, which require Quality of Service (QoS) support. To retain the user with Always Best Connected network in such restrictions is a challenging issue. A contemporary approach for efficient network selection in wireless heterogeneous networks is conferred. The approach composed of two criteria: the first is the cost function comprising of received signal strength, available bit rate, signal to noise ratio, throughput and bit error rate metrics. The metrics' respective weights are being optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The second criterion consists of fuzzy logic system fed with similar metrics as inputs and targeted towards same output. The final decision of network selection is taken by the blend of these two criteria. Simulation results indicated that the proposed scheme based on Cost function, PSO and Fuzzy system (C-P-F) provided better performance in terms of minimizing the unnecessary handoffs (network selection rate), utility degree and load balancing. The proposed algorithm (C-P-F) significantly reduces the network selection rate by 50% as compared to existing algorithm based on cost function and PSO. This reduction indicated higher probability of guaranteed session continuity and good quality of the currently running service, which resulted in high user satisfaction levels. It enhances user satisfaction 55% and reduced network selection rate upto 75% in comparison of existing network selection techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]